NEW YORK - So many times already this year, Mets fans have had their hearts broken by this team that they were told was supposed to be the class of the National League.
This one might have been the most crushing heartbreak of all.
Mike Pelfrey was on his way to what seemed like a surefire victory, possibly even the first complete game of the season for the Mets, before a ninth-inning leadoff single prompted manager Willie Randolph to turn the game over to closer Billy Wagner. Stunningly, Wagner, who'd blown a two-run lead and served up the pinch-hit, three-run home run Sunday that doomed the Mets to a four-game sweep loss in San Diego, blew his second consecutive save chance, in equally spectacular fashion. Once again, he allowed a sickening three-run homer, this one to Mark Reynolds that cost Pelfrey the victory and sent the game into extra innings.
Fortunately for Randolph, and the remnants of the 46,509 that stayed late, Carlos Beltran rescued the game when he drilled a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the 13th inning off reliever Edgar Gonzalez, the sixth Diamondbacks pitcher to give the Mets a badly needed 5-3 victory that ended their losing streak at five games.
Beltran's homer, which went to right-center, over the 371-foot sign, helped the Mets pull a game closer to the NL East-leading Phillies, who lost to Florida, 6-2. The Mets (31-33) now trail the Phils by 6 ½ games.
Claudio Vargas (3-2), who was beaten out by Pelfrey to stay in the rotation when Pedro Martinez came back last week, pitched the 13th and got the victory. Pelfrey was left with a no-decision for his career-high eight innings and career-best eight strikeouts.